Nashville-based singer-songwriters MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge recently racked up millions of views online when they posted a clip of them singing a painfully beautiful heartbreak ballad that came as a result of a rare co-write. After receiving overwhelming support from fellow hitmakers like Luke Combs, ERNEST, Ella Langley and more, they decided to give into the demand and release “Happy Ever After You.”
The new song finds the couple pouring their hearts out over a failed relationship. In reality, Porter and Etheridge appear to be happy and in love, but this narrative allows them to step into the roles of two exes with holes in their hearts “near the size of Texas.”
Alone, each of their vocals have something unique to offer, but together their harmonies are so powerful and silky smooth that it’s no surprise they saw so much praise online.
“I got a hole in my heart damn near the size of Texas and I think you left it/ I got a picture of you and me circa 2019/ Don’t know why I kept it/ I got a story I tell myself until my face is in the blue/ But I got no happy ever after you,” they deliver on the chorus caked in pain.
First Co-Write In Over A Decade
The talented couple dated for five years before tying the knot with a secret elopement in 2020. Throughout their relationship, both of the artists have written and recorded many songs individually, but it’s taken over a decade for them to join forces for a co-write. This project has launched the formation of a new musical partnership which they call Jake Etheridge.
“We met songwriting, fell in love and chose to keep our careers separate as we have pretty different tastes in music,” shares Porter and Etheridge. “Usually in the morning before we both leave for our separate writes we jokingly ask, ‘got any good hooks I can steal?’ and ‘happy ever after you’ was one thrown out some months back.
“Luckily, we ended up just writing it together. It’s amazing what this little moment has turned into already. Sometimes it’s just right under your nose (or bed) the whole time,” they added
Going Viral Overnight
The married duo racked up over five million views with their impromptu clip that found them strumming and singing along to “Happy Ever After You.” A slew of their fellow singer/songwriters were among the users struck by talent and made sure to let them know by singing their praises in the comment section.
Luke Combs’ comment sits at the very top reading, “Hey. This is really damn good.” Ella Langley simply wrote “Wow,” Jordan Davis said, “Well damn y’all… this is beautiful” and Charly Reynolds pleaded, “Release now.”
ERNEST and Ashley Cooke agreed with Combs stating, “this is so good.”
Other acts that showed their support and played a role in the song’s official release included John Mayer, Brandi Carlile, Natasha Bedingfield, and more.
@mackenzieporter I met my huband songwriting but we hadn’t written a song together in over 10 years.. till now. #nashville #countrymusic #heartbreak #husbandwife #newmusic #happyeverafter @Jake Etheridge ♬ Happy Ever After You – MacKenzie Porter
The release follows a year of success and fulfilling milestones for MacKenzie Porter who unveiled her 19-song debut album Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, co-hosted the CCMA Awards with Thomas Rhett where she was crowned Female Artist of the Year, and toured alongside Keith Urban and Parker McCollum. Porter accomplished all of the above while also being a mom to her baby girl, Bowen James.
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